Imitate Mary’s charity, Mary: Day 072

Imitate Mary’s charity

St. Alphonsus reminds us that if we want to imitate Mary, we must give ourselves to practicing charity.

“Mary’s love for us,” says St. Bonaventure, “hasn’t diminished now that she’s in heaven. It’s increased, because she now sees better the miseries of the world. Mary’s mercy toward the miserable was great when she was still in exile on earth; but it’s far greater now that she reigns in heaven.”

Blessed is he, says the Mother of God, who listens to my instructions, pays attention to my love and, in imitation of me, practices it himself toward others: “Happy is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors” (Prv 8:34). St. Gregory Nazianzen assures us that “there is nothing by which we can with greater certainty gain the affection of Mary than by charity towards our neighbor.”

In the same way that God exhorts us, saying, “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” (Lk 6:36), so also Mary seems to say to all her children, “Be merciful, even as your mother is merciful.” It’s certain that our charity toward our neighbor will be the measure of the mercy that both God and Mary will show us: “Give, and it will be given to you. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back” (Lk 6:38).

St. Methodius used to say, “Give to the poor, and receive paradise.” St. John Chrysostom once reflected on these words of Proverbs: “He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord” (Prv 19:17). He remarked: “He who assists the needy makes God his debtor.”

Mother of Mercy, you are full of charity for all. Don’t forget my miseries; you see them clearly. Entrust me to God, who denies you nothing. Obtain for me the grace to imitate you in holy charity, toward God as well as toward my neighbor. —St. Alphonsus Liguori, The Glories of Mary

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .
Our devotion to Mary should turn us outward as well as inward. Am I making a regular effort to practice charity, both to strangers and to those I know?

CLOSING PRAYER
From a prayer of Blessed Mother Teresa: Mary, give me your heart: so beautiful, so pure, so immaculate; your heart so full of love and humility that I may be able to receive Jesus in the Bread of Life and love him as you love him, and serve him in the distressing guise of the poor.

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